Attachment for piano keyboards



June 28, 1932. H. HON ET AL 1,865,370

ATTACHMENT FOR PIANO KEYBOARDS Filed July 30, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q r3 jZaZZz'e flora Willi/M75271 we/wfon June 28, 1932 H' O ET AL 1,865,370

ATTACHMENT FOR PIANO KEYBOARDS Filed July so, 1951 2 Sheets-Shet 2J'IaZZz'e 1Y0];

Patented June 28, 1 932 U -S S PATENT OFFICE y HATTIVE HON Am) nownnn H.SHUMAKER, or MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE ATTAoHMENT FOR Piano KEYBOARDSApplication filed July so,

For the sake of illustration itmight be stated that it is absolutelynecessary in teaching pupils the art of pianoforte playing, to stressthe importance of the proper positioning of the hands and wrists of thepupils over the keyboard, to insure the striking of the keys by the endsof the fingers, to accomplish a variance of tone qualities.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention, to providea guard or hand builder, to be attached to the keyboard of a pianoforte,in such a way that a person playing the piano equipped with the devicewill be compelled to hold his hands in the proper Way, while strikingthe keys.

An important object ofthe invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which may be readily and easily positioned on the usualkeyboard of a pianoforte, eliminating the necessity of makingalterations in the keyboard construction in any way, to mount thedevice.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within thescope of What is claimed, Without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmental plan view of thekeyboard of a pianoforte, showing a device constructed in accordancewith the invention as positioned thereon.

l: keyboard of a pianoforte is indicated generally by the referencecharacter 5 to which the device forming the subject matter of theinvention, is secured.

p The guard or hand builder comprises end members 6 which aresubstantially triangu- 1931. Serial No. 554,134.

lar in formation, the lower ends thereof, however, 'beingprovided withcut out portions defining shoulders 7, so that the end members may heslid into position over the white keys of the keyboard of a pianoforte,with the exis tension 8 formed by the cut out portions rest- 1igig onthe ledge 9 directly in front of the eys.

with horizontally disposed parallel grooves 10, which grooves provideguides for the 06 ends of the length of glass indicated at 11 which actsas a guard for the knuckles of the hands of the player to prevent theknuckles from being raised too high. H

7 Thus it will be seen that by adjusting the 08' length of glass 11, theheight that the hands may be raised may be regulated to meet variousrequirements.

The endmembers 6 are also formed Connecting the end members 6, is a rod12, h j

that has right angled ends 13 formed with 76 eyes 14 at their ends,which eyes accommodate the pins 15. Adjusting pins 16 extend laterallyfrom the end members 6 and engage the ends 13 providing supports forthe'rod 12 so that the rod 12 may be held in various 75" positions ofadjustment.

' \Vhile the rod 12 provides means for connecting the end members 6, itis pointed out that it also provides a guard under which'the hands ofthe operator are positioned, to .preto" vent the hands from being raisedtoo high. Extending inwardly from the end members, at points directlyabove the keys, are pins 17, over which the hands are positioned, whenusing the device. 88"

A metallic plate indicated by the reference character 20 also connectsthe end members 6 to hold them in proper spaced relation with eachother, the plate 20 being of a width to completely cover the inner edgesof the end W members, as clearly shown by Figure 3 of the drawings.

The reference character 18 designates arms From the foregoing it will beobvious that m a pupil in placing his hands within the hand builder in amanner as described, will be compelled to bend the knuckles and wrist insuch a way as to insure a striking of the keys with the ends of thefingers thereby insuring a Variance of tone quality.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A device of the class described, comprising end members, said endmembers adapted to be positioned on the keys of a pianoforte, ahorizontal translucent member mounted on the end members and under whichthe hands of the player are positioned, a rod extending across the frontof the device in spaced relation therewith, and under which the handsare positioned, pins extending inwardly from the end members in parallelrelation with the rod, and over which the hands of the operator arepositioned, and means for removably securing the device to the keyboard.

2. A device of the class described, comprising end members, said endmembers adapted to be positioned on the keys of a pianoforte, means forconnecting the end members, a transparent member adjustably mounted onthe end members and under which the hands of the player are positionedto restrict upward movement of the hands of the operator, a rodextending forwardly from the device, and disposed parallel with respectto the keyboard, pins extending inwardly from the end members and overwhich the hands of the operator arepositioned, and means for securingthe device to the keyboard of a pianoforte.

3. A device of the class described, comprising end members, means forconnecting the end members to hold the end members in proper spacedrelation with each other, a rodhaving inwardly extended ends connectedto the end members, said rod being disposed in spaced relation with thekeys of the keyboard, means for adjusting the rod vertically, pinsextending inwardly from the endmembers and over which the hands of theplayer are positioned, and means for securing the device to the keys ofthe keyboard.

4. A device of the class described, comprising end members, said endmembers adapted to be positioned on the keys of a pi anoforte, a rodextending forwardly from the keyboard and in spaced relation therewith,means for connecting the rod to the end members, pins extending inwardlyfrom the end members and over which the hands of the player arepositioned, an adjustable transparent member mounted on the end membersand adapted to prevent the hands of the player from being raised toohigh, and means for securing the device to the keys of the keyboard.

5. A device of the class described, comprising end members, adapted tobe positioned on the keys of a keyboard of a pianoforte, a rod connectedwith the end members and extending forwardly in parallel spaced relationwith the keyboard of a pianoforte, guard members supported by the endmembers for restricting the movements of the hands of the player, armsextending inwardly from

